With fainting audiences and rave reviews, Adelaide’s RackaRacka brothers reveal how Aussie authenticity is the key to their global box office success.
When Stephen King calls your new film “thoughtful, textured, and scary as hell,” you know you’ve made it big.
But for Adelaide filmmaking sensations Danny and Michael Philippou, who were 2023 finalists in InDaily’s 40 Under 40, success still feels “surreal” – even after transitioning from YouTube stardom as RackaRacka, famous for chaotic backyard antics, to internationally acclaimed horror filmmakers.
The film Stephen King shouted out is Bring Her Back, the Philippou brothers’ second feature film.
Already garnering rave reviews as “one of the best horror films of the year”, it’s been described as “a masterclass in filmmaking” (The Guardian), “as unutterably sad as it is disturbingly frightening” (Variety), and “a film that gets under your skin and refuses to let go” (Empire Magazine).
Swerving the sophomore slump
But Michael says their overwhelming feeling right now is “relief that it connected and resonated with people, especially on an emotional level”.
Following up their debut “party horror” film, Talk to Me – which became one of indie powerhouse A24’s highest-grossing films – was always going to be tough.
“Everyone’s always talking about the sophomore slump,” Danny says.
Michael agrees: “I could feel the pressure and anxiety building up after Talk to Me, and this weird fear it would all go away. So we signed on really quickly and just jumped straight into the next [film] before we could panic or overthink it.”
That instinct proved spot-on. Bring Her Back has received widespread acclaim, currently boasting an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and cementing the twin brothers’ status as modern horror masters.
From Pooraka backyard chaos to global horror heroes
The Philippou twins first gained fame via their YouTube channel RackaRacka, named after the Adelaide suburb where they grew up.
Their wild backyard wrestling, death-defying stunts and DIY horror-comedy sketches earned over 1.5 billion views.
Feature filmmaking, though, was always their ultimate goal.
“YouTube became our practice ground,” Michael explains. “By the time we shot Talk to Me, it felt like we’d already directed ten films.”
Achieving filmmaking success was especially meaningful given their dad’s unwavering support.
“Dad never thought this would actually go anywhere, but he knew we were obsessed so he supported us,” Danny says. “He always told us, ‘Have a backup,’ but we didn’t.”
“Dad’s been very sick on and off, so I always wondered if he’d even be around to see us make our first movie,” Michael says. “Having him there at the premiere, seeing us achieve that lifelong dream – there’s nothing more amazing.”
Horror films with heart (and fainting warnings)
Co-written by Danny and fellow SA writer Bill Hinzman, Bring Her Back sees the twins continue working with producers Samantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton of Causeway Films, with the film again backed by A24 and supported by the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC).
The story follows siblings Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong) as they uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother, played by the twice Academy Award-nominated Sally Hawkins.
Without spoiling anything, terror ensues – but it’s terror that happens to characters you deeply care about.
“Bring Her Back is a horror film with heart – but it definitely should come with a content warning,” Michael says. “There’s been some fainting [in the audience]!”
While the twins’ films have matured emotionally since their YouTube days, they remain seriously heavy on gore. You’ve been warned.
Proudly Adelaide
Despite pressure to film in Hollywood, the twins remain loyal to South Australia – with both their films set here.
“It’s the most genuine, authentic choice,” Danny says. “We’ve worked with local crew since we were 18 – it’s home.”
Danny recalls the time when, as a teenager, he asked then-producer and now-SAFC CEO Kate Croser to provide feedback on his first “terrible” script: “I was 16, just a kid, but she read the whole thing”.
“Now she’s running the SAFC – it’s just a really supportive, beautiful environment. I can’t imagine making our films anywhere else.”
The SAFC backed both their films “even when other people didn’t,” Danny says, with support provided through the agency’s Screen Production Fund and SA Post Production, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Rebate, and filming taking place at the SAFC’s Adelaide Studios in Glenside Talk to Me was additionally supported with funding from the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund.
The brothers also resisted pressure to use American accents or settings.
“Hollywood looks for originality and authenticity – that’s what we’d built our YouTube channel on,” Danny explains. “It just didn’t seem right to change. We haven’t gone the studio route because we want to do it our way, and Australian accents are part of that.”
Michael adds: “It shouldn’t matter where a film’s set for it to resonate with audiences. We’re glad we’ve been able to show that”.
Investing in Adelaide’s creative future
“We’re not going anywhere – South Australia is where we’re comfortable and it’s home,” says Michael.
“Being able to bring movies here, inject money into the economy, provide jobs – that’s really motivating for us,” Danny says.
The brothers prioritise South Australian talent, working with skilled local crews including the award-winning team from KOJO Studios, which led post production and visual effects on Bring Her Back alongside emerging SA VFX studio This Is Not A Cult. They also enjoy working with friends they grew up with like their YouTube makeup artist Bec Buratto who now heads their makeup department.
“We try to get as many of our friends and family in there as we can,” Michael adds. “Our friend [Michael] Gilmore has somehow managed to do four different, random jobs on set – he just kept turning up!”
South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) CEO Kate Croser says: “Danny and Michael’s films are truly a super showcase of South Australian screen talent, and a reminder that some of the best screen professionals in the world are living and working right here in our state
“These talented twins have shown what’s possible when creative risk is backed by skill, drive, and crucially, support. That support has come from many corners, but I’m proud to say that the SAFC has been there from the beginning, championing their journey.
“We believe in backing homegrown talent, and films like Talk to Me and Bring Her Back are shining examples of what happens when that belief meets ambition and artistry.
Why Aussie horror is booming
South Australia has an international reputation for producing some of the world’s boldest and most original horror films – think The Babadook, Wolf Creek and Cargo – and the Philippous are quickly expanding that legacy.
Danny believes horror resonates because it’s “a fun way to explore dark themes safely. There’s something cathartic and communal about it – it’s visceral, with big audience reactions”.
He adds: “There’s a rawness to Australian filmmaking, an edge that’s awesome to capture. Aussies have a toughness … even with our sense of humour – the way we make fun of each other, and our filmmaking has that same grit”.
Michael agrees there’s “definitely a boom happening in horror right now”.
“So many amazing actors want to collaborate – they’re looking for something fresh and exciting,” he adds.
Advice from Pooraka for aspiring filmmakers
Michael’s advice for South Australians who want to follow in the twins’ footsteps is to “volunteer on sets, help out, be enthusiastic, and build connections”.
He recalls his early surprise at discovering Adelaide’s vibrant film industry: “Seeing a lighting truck on my first set blew me away – I thought, ‘People actually make movies here?’”.
Working on Jennifer Kent’s acclaimed horror film The Babadook, which also filmed at Adelaide Studios with the support of the SAFC, was pivotal: “She was tough, awesome, strong. Seeing how much she loved directing inspired me immensely”.
Danny adds that self-belief is crucial: “If you tell yourself you’ll fail, you will. Starting out is embarrassing and cringey – but that’s part of learning”.
What’s next for the Philippou brothers?
The RackaRacka brothers are deep into a new documentary on professional death wrestling, slated for release next year.
True to form, Michael isn’t just filming – he’s participating. “The goal isn’t to die,” he jokes. “It’s violent performance art – real weapons, blood, barbed wire. We’ve been fascinated since we were kids.”
They’re also planning new “suburban horror feature films”, and say at least the next two will “definitely shoot in Adelaide”.
Ultimately, what draws them back is simple: Adelaide is home, and there’s nowhere else they’d rather bring their nightmares to life.
